Retailers and hospitality employers plan a campaign after the election for a relaxation of penalty rates after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott signalled support for such cases in the workplace tribunal.

But on Tuesday Mr Abbott sought to allay fears about the loss of worker entitlements by declaring pay and conditions would be safe under the Coalition.

On Monday he said penalty rates may be costing jobs, and suggested a Coalition government could voice its support for particular cases before the Fair Work Commission.

''I think the best way forward, at least initially, is to try to ensure that the award situation does maximise employment, and at the moment we are not maximising employment by closing down businesses and preventing people from getting jobs,'' he said at a community forum in South Australia.

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''I am confident that if the government were to back, for argument's sake, applications to the Fair Work Commission for adjustments in this area, it may well be successful.''

The government and union movement leapt on the comments, arguing Mr Abbott had signalled a Coalition government would put penalty rates at risk.

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The Australian Retailers Association, which recently lost a Fair Work Commission case to change penalty rates, welcomed Mr Abbott's stance and predicted a renewed campaign next year. Executive director Russell Zimmerman said the sector wanted Sunday penalty rates to be the same as Saturday penalty rates under the general retail award.

He said industry groups would seek changes in the Fair Work Commission's next review of the modern awards. ''The review in 2014 will be broader … and I think there's an opportunity for industry to go to Fair Work and put our case,'' he said.

Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive John Hart said the Fair Work Commission was due to hear a case brought by his organisation this month.

Mr Hart said the proposal was that Saturday and Sunday rates should be applied to the sixth and seventh consecutive day of work, rather than the actual weekend.

''I'm guessing if we're not successful [at the looming hearing] our next approach will be in 2014.''

ACTU president Ged Kearney said working late nights or at weekends was a sacrifice for workers, and penalty rates must reflect this.

"With millions of Australian workers in insecure forms of work, penalty rates are more important than ever for casual and low-paid workers struggling to pay the bills,'' she said.

Opposition workplace relations spokesman Eric Abetz said the Fair Work Commission was the industrial umpire with responsibility to make and vary modern awards, and this would not change under a Coalition government.

''It's important that the Fair Work Commission look objectively at these matters and strike a balance between the needs of workers, their employers and the national interest,'' he said.

''Governments of all persuasions have conventionally made submissions in significant cases before the umpire and that is something that will continue.''

Mr Abbott said on Tuesday workers' pay and conditions were safe under the Coalition and he trusted the independent umpire ''to try to ensure that wages and conditions are properly set in a way that will maximise employment''.

The Gillard government wants to pass legislative changes to make clear the Fair Work Commission should take into account the principle of penalty rates for unsociable work hours.